Thermal dish set

ABSTRACT

This invention serves as a set of mating containers, an upper container and a lower container, which are designed to fit together and, between the two, enclose a means for storing heat energy. The walls of this enclosure, which vary in thickness appropriately, are arranged in such a way that the heat energy introduced by the user into this enclosure is conducted primarily through the contents of the upper container.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to thermal dishware. The object of this invention is to maintain foods at, or near, a desired temperature. Interchangeable thermal inserts are meant to be replaced as often as needed to maintain that temperature. The invention is also intended to contain other foods around its central feature.

Certain foods, such as guacamole and dressing, are best when eaten cold. Other foods, such as nacho cheese and soup, are best when eaten warm or hot. Simply serving these foods at their desired temperature does not maintain the foods at their desired temperatures, over any length of time.

This invention comprises a platter and a mating dish, as well as several identical thermal inserts that are used to maintain the desired temperature for a particular food item contained inside the mating dish. As the temperature effect of a thermal insert diminishes, a fresh one at the appropriate temperature is used to replace it.

The invention may apply to other areas, in addition to serving foodstuffs. It may be used prepare foods, using batter that is to be kept either well-above or well-below room temperature. It may also be used to fabricate parts from components that are kept either above or below room temperature.

The invention claims the use of a thermal insert. This insert need not be manufactured. For example, it may comprise a puck of dry ice, or a handful of heated pebbles. It is not necessary to use a pre-fabricated thermal insert of one type or another, to render the invention functional.

The essential feature of this invention is a sealed chamber below a dish. The sealed chamber is thermally insulated on all sides, except through the dish itself

SUMMARY

In accordance with this invention, the device is a pair of containers that mate together so that they form a sealed chamber, and so that they each function independently as a container. One container is placed on top of the other, so that a sealed chamber is formed between the two. This chamber acts as a reservoir for thermal items that are used to keep the contents of the top container at or near a desired temperature.

The chamber provided is meant to be thermally insulated on its sides and bottom. This is achieved through constructing the lower container with a suitable material of appropriated thickness, at least in part. The preferred embodiment is made of molded clay or ceramic material. When mated to the upper container, it forms a chamber from which thermal energy cannot significantly escape by means of convection. However, the base of the upper container forms the top of the sealed chamber, and is thermally conductive. This thermal conductivity through the top of the sealed chamber is achieved using a specialized upper container, whose base is constructed from an appropriate material at a minimal thickness. The preferred embodiment again is made of molded clay or ceramic material. Though, the upper container may comprise a metal base to further facilitate thermal conductivity.

In this preferred embodiment, heat energy is exchanged from within the sealed chamber, primarily across the bottom of the upper container, and into the contents of the upper container. This activity maintains the temperature of the contents at or near that of the sealed chamber.

Various thermal items may be used within the chamber itself, depending on particular needs. A thermal insert, designed to rest against the upper container and away from other sides of the chamber, may be used to increase effectiveness.

REFERENCE TO DRAWINGS

Drawing Figures

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view in perspective of the preferred embodiment, including a specialized thermal insert

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the preferred embodiment of the invention in the assembled state.

FIG. 2A shows a section view from the front of the preferred embodiment of the invention in the assembled state.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

-   10 Upper Container -   20 Lower Container -   30 Specialized Thermal Insert -   40 Thermally Sealed Chamber -   50 Bottom of the Lower Container -   60 Siding of the Sealed Chamber -   70 Bottom of the Upper Container

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1. This embodiment comprises a Lower Container 10 and an Upper Container 20. A Specialized Thermal Insert 30 can be used to optimize heat transfer. When mated together, the Lower Container and Upper Container form the Thermally Sealed Chamber 40, shown in FIG. 2. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, both the Lower Container and the Upper Container are molded from a suitable clay or ceramic material. The Specialized Thermal Insert can be constructed of a single thermally-retentive material, or from a combination of suitable materials. All pieces may otherwise be fabricated by machining, molding, and/or assembling processes.

FIG. 2A shows an axial cross-section through the assembly of the preferred embodiment. The view depicts the Thermally Sealed Chamber, as it comprises a thickened Bottom of the Lower Container 50, the Siding of the Sealed Chamber 60, and the relatively thin Bottom of the Upper Container 70. This arrangement effectively creates an enclosed volume, which prevents the loss of heat energy by way of convection, to the immediate external surroundings. The primary method of heat exchange in the arrangement then, is conduction through the Bottom of the Upper Container. The heat exchange is carried further by conduction, to and from the contents of the Upper Container. The Thermally Sealed Chamber must contain a suitable means for storing heat energy, to perform its intended function.

In the preferred embodiment, the means for storing heat energy is represented as the Specialized Thermal Insert. However, the means for storing heat energy may comprise frozen water, dry ice, heated or chilled stone pebbles, packets of thermal gel, or steel shot.

The Specialized Thermal Insert is designed in such a way as to be substantially located against the Bottom of the Upper Container, and away from all other sides of the Thermally Sealed Chamber. The result is a boundary of air within the Thermally Sealed Chamber that acts as a conduction barrier on all sides but the top, and promotes heat exchange through the Bottom of the Upper Container.

Alternatively, when the means for storing heat energy is any uniformly-shaped cylindrical object of appropriate size and thermal property, the interior surface(s) o the Bottom of the Lower Container and/or the Siding of the Sealed Chamber may be fitted with projecting features. The simple presence of these projecting features appropriately locates the object to form the conduction barrier, and essentially achieves the same boundary conditions as those described in the previous paragraph. 

1. A device comprising an upper container and a lower container that fit together in such a way so to form a thermally sealed chamber, which houses a means for storing heat energy, and conducts said heat energy primarily through the bottom of said upper container, and exchanges said heat energy with the contents of said upper container.
 2. The device in claim 1 wherein said means for storing heat energy comprises a specialized thermal insert that is shaped in such a way so as to be substantially located against the outer bottom surface of said upper container, thus affording a boundary of air within said thermally sealed chamber that acts as a barrier to heat conduction on all other sides, so as to further promote the exchange of said heat energy through the bottom of said upper container.
 3. The device in claim 1 wherein said thermally sealed chamber also comprises a number of projecting features on both the inner bottom surface of the lower container and the inner siding of said thermally sealed chamber, that are shaped in such a way so as to substantially locate any uniformly-shaped cylindrical object of appropriate size and thermal property, against the outer bottom surface of said upper container, thus affording a boundary of air within said thermally sealed chamber that acts as a barrier to heat conduction on all other sides of said object, so as to further promote the exchange of said heat energy through the bottom of said upper container.
 4. A device used for storing heat energy, comprising a specialized thermal object that is shaped in such a way so that it may be substantially located against the outer bottom surface of a container, and includes a number of protrusions on all sides except that side which supports said container, thus affording a boundary of air about said thermal object that acts as a barrier to heat conduction on all other sides, so as to promote the exchange of heat energy through the bottom of said container. 